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Twenty-four new functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) based on trialkylimidazolium cations with the alkoxymethyl group at the N-1 position were synthesized and characterized. Physicochemical properties of these ILs, such as melting point, thermal stability, density, viscosity, conductivity, and electrochemical stability, were studied systematically. Twenty-one ILs appeared in the liquid state at room temperature, and 14 ILs showed a melting point lower than −60 °C. Introduction of the alkoxymethyl group at the N-1 position of trialkylimidazolium cations could not be more beneficial than that of the alkoxyethyl group for reducing viscosity. Li/LiFePO 4 cells employing three trialkylimidazolium ILs with methoxymethyl-group-based electrolytes showed good discharge capacity and cycle stability at a current rate of 0.1 C. This is the first report of ILs with the alkoxymethyl group used as electrolytes without an additive for a lithium ion battery.

The treatment of stormwater to remove and recover nutrients has received increasing interest. The objective of this study was to develop a novel adsorbent that is easy to handle, has good adsorption capacity, and is economical to use. A novel nanocomposite of montmorillonite (MT)-anchored magnetite (Fe3O4) was synthesised by co-precipitation as an adsorbent for ammonium. The MT/Fe3O4 nanocomposite had pore sizes (3–13 nm) in the range of narrow mesopores. The dispersion of the anchored Fe3O4 was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The nanocomposite exhibited higher affinity towards ammonium than the original MT. The Langmuir isotherm model was found to be the most suitable model to explain the ammonium adsorption behaviour of the nanocomposite. The maximum adsorption capacity for ammonium was 10.48 mg/g. The adsorption mechanism was a combination of ion exchange and electrostatic interaction. In an authentic stormwater sample, the synthesised adsorbent removed 64.2% of ammonium and reduced the amount of heavy metal contaminants including Mn, Ni, Cu and Zn. Furthermore, the ammonium loading on MT/Fe3O4 during adsorption functionalised the adsorbent surface. Additionally, the spent nanocomposite showed potential for rare earth elements (REEs) adsorption as a secondary application, especially for the selective adsorption of Sc3+. The versatile application of montmorillonite-anchored magnetite nanocomposite makes it a promising adsorbent for water treatment. Graphic abstract

Polystyrene (PS)-c-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (MPTMS) copolymer/zirconia (ZrO 2 ) nanohybrid materials were successfully prepared by the combination of solvothermal and in situ synthesis methods, in which the comonomer was used as chemical bonding agent between the nanoparticles and the matrix, and acetylacetone (AcAc) was used as a size control agent of ZrO 2 in the PS matrix. Then, a new transparency film with a relatively high refractive index (1.72) was successfully obtained, in which ZrO 2 could be dispersed well in the PS-MPTMS matrix. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images indicated that AcAc was helpful in the dispersion of the nanoparticles, and smaller ZrO 2 particles with no aggregation were obtained in the PS-MPTMS matrix. The structure and thermal properties of the hybrid films were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, and the surface properties were also examined.